Date: Tuesday, October 6, 2026
Time: 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM
Location: BAL 9024 (Burgess Room), Old Dominion University
In keeping with tradition, mPark at ODU hosted another Coptic Bookbinding Workshop, led by Prof. Luisa A. Igloria of the Department of English! This workshop was part of the larger LitFest, the theme of which was “Make Room for Wonder.” Coptic bookbinding is just that—a creative craft in which the finished product holds plenty of space for whatever wonder you may come up with!
Coptic binding, also known as Coptic sewing, is a technique developed in Egypt dating all the way back to the 2nd century AD. Using chain-link stitching, Coptic binding brings together multiple “signatures” (sections of folded pages) to form a book. This technique can be used to bind together pages that already contain writing, but in our workshop, we worked with blank signatures so that participants could fill their handmade books with whatever their hearts desired.
This method of bookbinding is a great exercise in craft for people of all skill levels, particularly beginners! On top of that, everyone writes—whether it be journaling, making lists, planning a vacation, or simply organizing your thoughts. Why not learn a craft that can help you do just that while also being creative? We hope this workshop inspired participants to continue exploring the possibilities of Coptic bookbinding and making room for wonder!
Materials Used in the Workshop
Interested in making your own Coptic-bound book? Here are the materials used for our workshop:
- Book boards (chipboard): For sturdy front and back covers.
- Decorative or Japanese paper: For wrapping and decorating the covers.
- A4 paper: Folded into signatures to create the pages of the book.
- Waxed thread: For sewing the signatures together.
- Bookbinding needles: For stitching the pages and covers.
- Awl: For making holes in the signatures and covers.
- Scissors and ruler: For measuring and cutting materials.
- Glue: For attaching decorative paper to the covers.
Workshop Tutorials and Resources
For anyone interested in trying Coptic bookbinding at home or reviewing the techniques introduced in our workshop, we’ve gathered three helpful resources below.
1. Coptic Bookbinding: Sewing Process
This video demonstrates the sewing process from the front cover to the back cover, beginning at 25:31. The demonstration is clear and moves at a slow pace, making it easier to follow along. Please note that some steps, particularly those involving the back cover and signatures, may differ slightly from the method used in our workshop.
Watch the sewing tutorial starting at 25:31
2. A Simple Coptic Binding Tutorial
There are many variations of Coptic binding, and this video introduces a simpler method that beginners may find helpful. For our workshop, we preferred using book boards for the front and back covers because they provide a sturdier finished book.
3. How to Sew a Kettle Stitch
This quick and easy tutorial from Paper Craft Panda introduces the Kettle Stitch, a useful bookbinding technique for connecting and securing signatures. The guide provides step-by-step instructions for anyone interested in learning more about bookbinding stitches.
Read the Kettle Stitch Tutorial – Paper Craft Panda
Edited by Emily and Meng